Office of the Premier

To help spark B.C. innovation, economic growth and new jobs, the provincial government is investing in tech-based research and advanced training opportunities in all parts of the province, Premier John Horgan announced today at the #BCTECH Summit.
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Advanced Education, Skills and Training

Engineering students in Prince George now have access to a state-of-the-art research facility to create sustainable wood engineering solutions, with the opening of the Wood Innovation Research Laboratory at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).
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Attorney General

The Government of British Columbia is introducing changes to legislation aimed at reversing ICBC’s skyrocketing legal and administrative costs, and making insurance rates more affordable for B.C. drivers, Attorney General David Eby announced today.
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Children and Family Development

Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development, and Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care, have issued the following statement recognizing the importance of Child Care Month in B.C.:
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Citizens' Services

Internet service providers and other community-based organizations will soon be eligible to apply for new $16 million grant funding to improve connectivity in rural, remote and Indigenous areas in B.C., announced Jinny Sims, Minister of Citizens’ Services.
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Education

Students at 51 schools throughout the province will have new playgrounds when they return to school in September, as part of a new playground fund that will take fundraising pressure off of parents, announced Premier John Horgan.
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Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

The Province is making clean transportation more affordable and accessible for British Columbians, with incentives and one of Canada’s largest networks of charging and fuelling stations, announced Michelle Mungall, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on Clean Energy Vehicle Day.
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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Three provincial parks will be renamed to reflect their historic and cultural significance as part of reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples, if proposed legislative amendments introduced are passed.
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Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

As the Province responds to ongoing flooding, and in advance of the 2018 wildfire season, government is acting on some of the recommendations in the report, Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in British Columbia, announced Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
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Health

Minister of Health Adrian Dix has announced that the Province is creating 200 new nurse practitioner (NP) positions to support patients as part of a shift to a team-based primary health-care system.
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Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

British Columbia’s Aboriginal friendship centres have access to reliable, dedicated funding for the first time thanks to Budget 2018, ensuring their critical services for urban Indigenous peoples into the future.
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Jobs, Trade and Technology

Premier John Horgan and Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, have issued the following statement in response to Amazon’s announcement that it will create 3,000 new jobs in British Columbia by 2022, in addition to the 1,000 new jobs the company announced in November 2017:
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Labour

First responders, sheriffs and correctional officers will have greater access to services and compensation for mental disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can arise from traumatic workplace incidents, as a result of legislative amendments announced by Labour Minister Harry Bains.
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Municipal Affairs and Housing

The Province of British Columbia is continuing to take bold action to address both housing demand and supply by cracking down on tax evasion on pre-sale condo assignments, giving local governments the power to protect and encourage the building of rentals, and requiring communities to assess their housing needs.
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Tourism, Arts and Culture

The provincial government welcomed members of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council to Victoria with an announcement of $3.5 million in support for the 2020 Games bid by the Songhees First Nation.
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Transportation and Infrastructure

The Province is making clean transportation more affordable and accessible for British Columbians, with incentives and one of Canada’s largest networks of charging and fuelling stations, announced Michelle Mungall, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on Clean Energy Vehicle Day.
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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Three provincial parks will be renamed to reflect their historic and cultural significance as part of reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples, if proposed legislative amendments introduced are passed.
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"The Province remains committed to protecting our natural resources, while at the same time expanding our economic activities," said Polak. "Strong economic growth and strong environmental stewardship can co-exist in British Columbia. However, these economic activities will not be at the cost of our environment."

If passed, these amendments will:

Ensure commercial filming activities in Class A parks are properly authorized. Having the proper authorities in place eliminates uncertainties, helping to draw more production companies to the province, showcasing B.C.'s world-class parks system.

Remove an arbitrary size provision in the act, ensuring all Class A parks are managed to the same high standards, regardless of their size. In 1965, this provision was added to the act to give a higher level of protection to parks 2,023 hectares or less in size. Over the years, protected area management tools, including management planning with public involvement, impact assessments and conservation risk assessments, have been developed, ensuring strong protection for all parks.

Allow permits for research and information gathering, like vegetation sampling, fish surveys and geotechnical studies, to assist in determining whether future economic development projects may be feasible. These permits would be considered only after a thorough review of protected area values, including management plans, impact assessments and conservation assessments.

The Park Act is one of the principal pieces of legislation governing protected areas in British Columbia, providing for the administration and management of provincial parks, recreation areas and conservancies.

British Columbia has the highest percentage of its land base dedicated to protected areas in Canada, and one of the largest protected-areas systems in North America.